Progress To A Transformed Christian Life
Jesus tell us to love our enemies and pray for those who curse us (Matthew 5:44). I have prayed for terrorists in the past and even voiced a prayer that those who hate Christians will be exposed to the light of Jesus Christ. But one of the hardest people for me to pray for was... Continue Reading →
Yesterday, I taught my Sunday School class a lesson on worry. This lesson came from the part of the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 6) when Jesus instructs his listeners to "not worry." He explains that the birds of the air and flowers on the ground are both taken care of by God so why... Continue Reading →
Remember our challenge to memorize a scripture (Matt. 5:3) a week for the next four weeks? Yesterday we read our verse five times. Today we will write our verse down five times. This doesn't count. Get your piece of paper and do it. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of... Continue Reading →
Very few spiritual exercises have impacted me more than scripture memorization. Even though I have only memorized a handful of verses in my life, the ones I have memorized have always been deeply impactful for me. So I invite you to join my challenge of memorizing a verse a week. We will start with the... Continue Reading →
Yesterday, we looked at five scriptures passages that have not only been enriching to me but also key transition points to other passages. Today, I list the rest of my top 10. 6. 1 Samuel 16 - By the time I had become taken by the Sermon on the Mount and many of the other... Continue Reading →
Yesterday, I discussed the Scripture Top Ten Method of approaching scripture. It starts with a favorite passage or verse and then through discovery or study leads to other similar or noteworthy passages. Here is five of my top ten and why they are significant. Nos. 6-10 will come tomorrow. 1. Sermon on the Mount (Matthew... Continue Reading →
For most of my life, reading scripture has been intimidating. I avoided reading scripture because I was afraid that I wouldn't understand what I was reading or that I wouldn't find my time meaningful or enriching. This all changed when I discovered the Sermon on the Mount. In the passages found in Matt. 5-7, I... Continue Reading →
Sometimes I wonder if what I am doing on this blog and in classes I teach on discipleship is mistaken. I ask myself if I am being too focused on self and am encouraging people to abandon global pursuits for personal pursuits that potentially have little meaning. Is my emphasis on personal spiritual growth just... Continue Reading →
Here are three more examples in my own life of personal changes coming as a result of the work of Christ in my life. Let me note that Christ taught me these things through his Word, through prayer and meditation on scripture, and through great teaching from the likes of Dallas Willard, James Bryan Smith,... Continue Reading →
In the last post, I expressed that the best path to personal change is first through Christian spiritual transformation and development. Here are some examples in my own life of personal changes coming as a result of the work of Christ in my life. - Become a nicer, friendlier person - Initially, I come across... Continue Reading →
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